Just out of curiosity, how does gaydar work with deaf/hoh? I feel like my gaydar is pretty good, but I would base a lot of it on how someone talked. Do you just tell more from mannerisms? (Is there a way to sign "gay"?) I hadn't even thought of that. I think my gaydar would be broken...

Just out of curiosity, how does gaydar work with deaf/hoh? I feel like my gaydar is pretty good, but I would base a lot of it on how someone talked. Do you just tell more from mannerisms? (Is there a way to sign "gay"?) I hadn't even thought of that. I think my gaydar would be broken...

Deaf GLBT people have their own slang in ASL--and when one recognizes the slang--it's a confirmation of one's sexual orientation.

Deaf GLBT people have their own slang in ASL--and when one recognizes the slang--it's a confirmation of one's sexual orientation.

What kind of slang? I went to a deaf event recently, and two of the people were joking that they had to understand english, sign language, and "GAY!!!!!!!" (yelled and with a crazy face while signing "sign language"). I think I need to learn that language.

What kind of slang? I went to a deaf event recently, and two of the people were joking that they had to understand english, sign language, and "GAY!!!!!!!" (yelled and with a crazy face while signing "sign language"). I think I need to learn that language.

Hard to explain on the forum and putting it into words.

I suggest attending a GLBT coffee gathering where you live and meet up with the folks......

Exactly. I have seen slang used in the GLTD deaf community, and I hear it used in the hearing GLTB community. Knowing the slang does not make me gay. However, if I hear one gay man refer to another with the statement, "Oh, yes. He's family.", I know exactly what he is talking about.

Personally, I refer to my girlfriend as my girlfriend (and eventually someday as my wife ), but that varies by person. I will say that I don't hear "lover" very often, but "partner" is pretty common. For undergrad, I went to a very liberal all-women's college, and it did get annoying that a lot of professors would refer to their spouses as their "partner" regardless of if they were the same or opposite sex. It made it hard to tell. By the end we were just thinking, "Look, if he's your husband, just call him your husband, nobody is offended".

Exactly. I have seen slang used in the GLTD deaf community, and I hear it used in the hearing GLTB community. Knowing the slang does not make me gay. However, if I hear one gay man refer to another with the statement, "Oh, yes. He's family.", I know exactly what he is talking about.

Personally, I refer to my girlfriend as my girlfriend (and eventually someday as my wife ), but that varies by person. I will say that I don't hear "lover" very often, but "partner" is pretty common. For undergrad, I went to a very liberal all-women's college, and it did get annoying that a lot of professors would refer to their spouses as their "partner" regardless of if they were the same or opposite sex. It made it hard to tell. By the end we were just thinking, "Look, if he's your husband, just call him your husband, nobody is offended".

Wellsley College? Maybe they viewed it as "ownership" by stating husband? Afterall the society is patriachal enough....

Well, when I was with Whisperhorse....she had short spikey, dyed blonde hair with men clothes.....lot of people assumed she's lesbain. She said: Nope, I'm not, it's just my style. She is pretty much a straight gal, but likes women only for fun. So, their sensor is whacked out of order. You cannot always assume people by their looks or how they behave. One guy that I know who acts gay, but he actually is into women, nothing more.

I recall this gem by Neil S. Plakcy (on a take of Christopher's classic poem)...

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands and crystal brooks
With silken lines, and silver hooks.
There's noting that I wouldn't do
If you could be my POSSLQ.

You live with me, and I with you,
And you would be my POSSLQ.
I'll be your friend and so much more;
That's what a POSSLQ is for.

And everything we will confess;
Yes, even to the IRS.
Some day on what we both may earn,
Perhaps we'll file a joint return.
You'll share my pad, taxes, joint;
You'll share my life-up to a point!
And that you'll be so glad to do,
Because you'll be my POSSLQ.